Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

Phillip Russell, a partner with Ogletree Deakins and an expert in OSHA regulations, shares his insights on the evolving landscape of workplace safety. He discusses potential changes in OSHA standards under a new administration, highlighting a shift toward more flexible performance measures. Russell emphasizes the importance of adapting leadership styles for improved safety compliance and suggests innovative strategies for employers to protect their workforce amidst these anticipated reforms.

Joe Kuhn, CMRP, former plant manager, engineer, and global reliability consultant, is now president of Lean Driven Reliability LLC. He is the author of the book “Zero to Hero: How to Jumpstart Your Reliability Journey Given Today’s Business Challenges” and the creator of the Joe Kuhn YouTube Channel, which offers content on starting your reliability journey and achieving financial independence. In our monthly podcast miniseries, Ask a Plant Manager, Joe considers a commonplace scenario facing the industry and offers his advice, as well as actions that you can take to get on track tomorrow. This episode offers insight into process management and avoiding the drift away from standards.

Get an inside look at four game-changing technological developments poised to change multiple industries.

2024 was been a year of remarkable growth and innovation for the manufacturing sector, with global supply chain challenges and innovations in smart manufacturing pushing companies to adapt and rethink their strategies. But what's in store for 2025? In this podcast, the editors from Endeavor Business Media’s Manufacturing Group look forward at the trends they will be keeping their eyes on in the new year.

Interest rates help determine when and how much manufacturers and machine shops invest in new machinery, systems, and consumables. Now that the Federal Reserve Bank has cut interest rates for a third time – should manufacturers be ready to invest? What other factors are shaping their choices in 2025? Chris Chidzik, chief economist for AMT – the Association for Manufacturing Technology, explains it all.

2024 has been a year of remarkable growth and innovation for the manufacturing sector, with key trends making lasting impressions on the industry. Automation, AI, and advanced robotics have gained traction, while sustainability initiatives have become a central focus for many manufacturers. Additionally, global supply chain challenges and innovations in smart manufacturing have pushed companies to adapt and rethink their strategies. In this year’s end wrap-up, the editors from Endeavor Business Media’s Manufacturing Group look back at the most important trends that impacted manufacturing in 2024 and offer insights into the direction the industry is heading.

Anna Townshend is managing editor of Plant Services and has been a journalist and editor for almost 20 years. In addition to writing and editing thousands of articles in her career, she has been an active speaker on industry panels and presentations. In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, she reads her latest Maintenance Mindset article, where each week one of the Plant Services editors highlights important and interesting nuggets in the news about manufacturing and asset management. About the Article Maintenance Mindset: The future of emissions monitoring — Exploring NIST’s game-changing spectroscopy technology New laser technology from NIST researchers to measure greenhouse gas emissions could bring better methods to the plant floor.   Written and read by Anna Townshend Read the article

IndustryWeek Senior Technology Editor Dennis Scimeca discusses which plant technologies are cool and fun to discuss, and which ones offered the best, measurable real-world results for manufacturers in 2024. Joining him are: Paul Miller, VP and principal analyst, Smart Manufacturing & Future Mobility, Forrester Research Ryan Martin, senior research director for Digital Transformation, ABI Research

Learn everything you need to know about machine vision, its components, and its use in industrial applications.  About the Article What Is Machine Vision? Learn the difference between computer and machine vision, the four types of machine vision systems, and the importance of lighting in imaging applications. Written by John D. Thrailkill Read by Laura Davis Read the article

Joe Kuhn, CMRP, former plant manager, engineer, and global reliability consultant, is now president of Lean Driven Reliability LLC. He is the author of the book “Zero to Hero: How to Jumpstart Your Reliability Journey Given Today’s Business Challenges” and the creator of the Joe Kuhn YouTube Channel, which offers content on starting your reliability journey and achieving financial independence. In our monthly podcast miniseries, Ask a Plant Manager, Joe considers a commonplace scenario facing the industry and offers his advice, as well as actions that you can take to get on track tomorrow. This episode offers insight into how to determine employee ratios on the plant floor and throughout the company.